Pre-Nurse interested in MSN

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, I'm a pre-nursing student at LaGuardia Community College in NYC interested in pursuing an MSN to become a nurse practitioner. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from 2011 with only a 3.0 cumulative GPA. So far I am doing well in the nursing prerequisites though, with A's in AP I and II, an A in General Chemistry, a B+ in Stats, A's in General and Developmental Psychology. I'm about to take Microbiology, Nutrition, and Sociology. I have a 3.88 GPA in the courses I've taken since I went back to school after my Bachelor's. I have no volunteer or health care experience.

The trouble is, I'm not that interested in being a nurse. I'd really like to be a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. I want to counsel people and have the ability to diagnose their mental health disorders and prescribe meds for them. I've always been interested in mental health.

Do I stand any chance of being admitted into a direct entry BSN-MSN program with my low cumulative GPA and lack of experience? If not, what would you guys advise? I'd prefer to spend as little time and money as possible, since I'm already in debt from my first degree, but I am willing to do whatever I need to, however much it costs or however long it takes.

Unfortunately the advisors at LaGuardia are difficult to see and not very helpful, so I was hoping someone here might have some insight to share.

Any guidance would be very much appreciated!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Hi, it's not that I'm not interested in many aspects of nursing, particularly helping people, advocating for them, and taking into account their emotional as well as physical well-being. I just have many of the concerns that I have seen others have on this forum: I don't really enjoy the thought of cleaning other people's urine and feces on a regular basis; I'd like to feel respected and appreciated at work and it doesn't sound like nurses feel that way (you hear "bottom of the totem pole, blamed for everything" a lot on here); I work best when I have autonomy, whereas it seems nurses must often carry out others' decisions, sometimes completely against their better judgment. I'm just trying to pursue a job in which I know I'll be happy.

Then why choose nursing???

I have in all my years in being a nurse have autonomy, been well respected, and felt empowered with the knowledge that I hold even though the most intimate, vulnerable moments of people's lives, which includes a minute part of engaging with body fluid; it takes a certain type of person to be able to see and embody those aspects of being a nurse successfully.

If you have those "concerns", then I suggest, again, to not go into nursing; it is not for everyone.

You can be a mental health counselor with a LCSW; you need a masters in social work, and then obtain a license in counseling.

If you want those prescriptive privileges that an NP has, understand that a portion of your studies and work, will include interacting with people in their most vulnerable times, including people with concurrent mental illness. Just a thought.

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I'm glad to hear that you feel respected and empowered as a nurse and that you enjoy a fair amount of autonomy. Those are some of my greatest concerns about becoming a nurse. I've read so many complaints on this forum and others and it's really nice to hear from someone who loves her job and feels she is being treated with respect.

If someone has some more insight about direct entry programs, that'd be great (that WAS my original question, after all). I'm not really interested in recommendations that I change my course of study. Thanks.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

You can talk to the schools you're interested in and ask them about your chances. Every school is different. Also, do a search on this website and you'll get a sense of the stats of other applicants. From what I've read, many applicants have 3.5+ GPA, good GRE, and 1 to 2+ years of healthcare work or volunteering experience.

Keep in mind that when you clean someone's urine/feces/butt, with the understanding that it is much worse for the patient, you are providing dignity and comfort.That, in fact, is helping. It's not enjoyable but you can get used to it, and you'll be doing something caring. Every profession has to carry out others' decisions to an extent, even doctors, lawyers, and business owners. But everyone can also make/carry out their own decisions in some ways.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I'm glad to hear that you feel respected and empowered as a nurse and that you enjoy a fair amount of autonomy. Those are some of my greatest concerns about becoming a nurse. I've read so many complaints on this forum and others and it's really nice to hear from someone who loves her job and feels she is being treated with respect.

If someone has some more insight about direct entry programs, that'd be great (that WAS my original question, after all). I'm not really interested in recommendations that I change my course of study. Thanks.

Then understand that there are DE programs that require you go through rotations, thus exposing you to those "concerns"; my point being, if you don't want to "deal with" them, you will possibly be in the position where you are going to; again, it will be your choice.

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Nursing is messy, period. You aren't going to be prescribing things neatly without touching some pretty icky things...PEOPLE are sticky, sweaty, smelly, and frequently otherwise physically unpleasant. Just think of all the times you can look forward to hearing "hey, NP, what's this weird bumpy thing under my belly, in my groin? Do you feel that...?"

:)

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Lol RNsRWe yeah, I know it's a messy job and I'm really not squeamish. The only thing I'm a little bit nervous about is feces... but I imagine a lot of pre-nursing students are nervous about it! I doubt it's anyone's favorite thing. I'm sure I'll get used to it like everybody else, and I really like and agree with what umbdude said about dealing with it being necessary to preserve a patient's dignity and comfort. I know I wouldn't think twice about making myself uncomfortable if it meant that I could help someone with their own comfort.

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You may as well do your pre requisites to go PA school if you have no interest in nursing. If you commit with nursing, you'll still have to commit a year or 2 of working to be competitive (Preferably in your field of psych) in applications to np school, let alone np positions. Unless of course, you are willing to dump tons of money into those for profit schools which are hurting the field more than helping. Financially, joining the military is probably smartest choice, if you're willing to put in a few years.

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